{
  "id": "2026-08-10-columbia-university-spoofed-public-safety-phone-calls",
  "slug": "columbia-university-spoofed-public-safety-phone-calls-2026-08-10",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Columbia University",
    "shortName": "Columbia",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Alert",
    "enrollment": 33000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2026-08-10",
    "type": "other",
    "cleryCategory": "timely-warning",
    "resolution": "under-investigation",
    "headline": "Spoofed Public Safety phone-call warning",
    "headlinePublic": "Spoofed Public Safety phone-call warning",
    "summary": "Columbia Public Safety [issued Clery Crime Alert 2026-W21](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W21_Clery_Community_Safety_Update_Spoofed_Public_Safety_Phone_Calls_Morningside_Campus_2026-08-10.pdf).",
    "outcome": "Public Safety seeking tips at 212-854-2797."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Community Safety Update - Spoofed Public Safety Phone Calls\nFor your personal safety and awareness, we have received several reports of fraudulent phone calls that appear to be coming from the Columbia University\nPublic Safety emergency number, 212-854-5555. These calls may use caller ID spoofing to make them appear legitimate.\nHere are a few ways to help identify and protect yourself from these types of scams:\nDo not rely on caller ID alone. Scammers can manipulate caller ID information to make a call appear to come from a legitimate phone number, including\nColumbia University Public Safety.\nBe cautious of urgent or threatening requests. Scammers may create a sense of urgency or threaten consequences to pressure you into acting quickly.\nDo not provide personal information or documentation. Avoid sharing personal, financial, immigration, or other sensitive information with an\nunexpected caller.\nHang up and verify the call independently. If you receive a suspicious call that appears to come from Public Safety, end the call and contact Public Safety\ndirectly.\nKnow how Columbia communicates during an emergency. In case of an emergency, Columbia notifies our community by email and/or text using the\nemergency notification system.\nDo not send money or make payments. Be suspicious of unexpected callers requesting money, gift cards, wire transfers, or other forms of payment.\nA few simple precautions can help protect you from phone scams. Stay alert, verify unexpected requests, and report suspicious activity.\nFor more crime prevention tips, please visit the Columbia University Public Safety Crime Prevention Tips page.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "confidence": "high",
      "sourceUrl": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W21_Clery_Community_Safety_Update_Spoofed_Public_Safety_Phone_Calls_Morningside_Campus_2026-08-10.pdf",
      "sourceDescription": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (2026-W21)",
      "annotations": [
        "PDF text layer ligatures normalized to ASCII. sha256 11b0ba0c3b07dc241a01919a4605c431e669036739e69a82a89bfcd43afdfcc8. Dual-fetch PDF bytes as packaged.",
        "Columbia Clery 2026-W21 flyer."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1636
    }
  ],
  "context": "Columbia Public Safety posts Clery Crime Alerts as PDFs. Official product: the [2026-W21 warning](https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W21_Clery_Community_Safety_Update_Spoofed_Public_Safety_Phone_Calls_Morningside_Campus_2026-08-10.pdf).",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Official Clery Crime Alert PDF recovered from the Public Safety files host."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Columbia Public Safety Clery Crime Alert PDF (2026-W21)",
      "url": "https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/sites/publicsafety.columbia.edu/files/content/W21_Clery_Community_Safety_Update_Spoofed_Public_Safety_Phone_Calls_Morningside_Campus_2026-08-10.pdf",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "accessDate": "2026-09-21",
      "archiveUrl": null,
      "archiveNotes": "SPN not attempted after 500 flap at 07:36Z"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "private-r1",
    "new-york",
    "columbia",
    "ivy",
    "clery",
    "other"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-09-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-09-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}